Robert Randolph “Bob” Crook, age 88 and a longtime resident of Noblesville, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018 at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born on July 15, 1929 in Louisville, Kentucky, the eldest son of Robert H. and Ethel (Literal) Crook.
Bob moved with his family from Kentucky to Indiana in 1939 and to Noblesville in 1942. He graduated from Noblesville High School in 1947, then attended Ball State Teachers College and Indiana University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Butler University in 1960.
He married Norma Jane Burger on June 21, 1953, sharing nearly 65 years of marriage together. For many years they operated several restaurant and catering businesses, most notably the Forest Park Inn, from 1953 to 1966.
Diagnosed with severe eye problems at the age of 5, Bob gradually lost all of his sight. However, he was determined not to let the disability define his life. His extraordinary achievements were testimony to his independence and will to succeed. In 1965 he was one of twelve blind candidates selected for a new government program to attend Cincinnati Blind School for extensive training in information technology, and in 1967 began working as a data systems analyst with Indiana Bell, later Ameritech. He retired from Ameritech in 1987 after 20 years of service.
Bob was an active member of Noblesville First Christian Church for more than 50 years, where he served as Elder and sang in the choir, among many other activities. He was a great lover of music, singing in the Bell Telephone Chorus and the Pride of Indy barbershop chorus. He also enjoyed Dixieland music, and played his tenor banjo with the Indy Strummers band. Nothing pleased him more than gatherings with his family, especially with music and good food. He loved classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes; and had worked toward his pilot’s license until his vision loss interfered. For many years he owned a 1915 Model T Ford and he loved tinkering with it, polishing it, and sharing it for community parades and other events. He was active in Boy Scouts as a young man and later served as an assistant scoutmaster. He was an avid gardener throughout his life, and enjoyed creating new and interesting culinary creations with the bounty of his garden. He was a charter member of the Noblesville Toastmasters, as well as a member of Noblesville Kiwanis, Noblesville Horticulture Society, Hamilton County Historical Society, and Central Indiana Vintage Vehicles. In his later years he enjoyed travelling with his family, emailing relatives and friends with updates on his “Great 8” grandkids, and he penned “The Wheels Go Round and Round”, a biographical collection of his experiences with all things motorized.
Bob’s family includes his wife, Jane Crook of Noblesville; son Daniel R. “Randy” (wife Beverly) Crook of Arcadia; son Spencer W. Crook of New Jersey; daughter Wendy S. (husband Dave) Coles of Greenwood; daughter-in-law Diane Crook (companion Roger Stern) of Noblesville; brother Marcus F. (wife Kim) Crook of Arizona; sister Beverly McGee of Noblesville; sister-in-law Janet Crook of Westfield; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (wife Brandy) Crook, Heather Matthew, Tim (wife Ashley) Crook, Erika (husband Adam) Wiles, Kelsey (husband Gabe) Schneider, Brendon Crook (fiancé Miranda Jarvis), Lauren Coles, and Derek Coles; ten great-grandchildren, Emma, Nathan, Hannah, Ian, Hunter, Samuel, Joel, Sarah, Abigail, and Forrest; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert B. “Brad” Crook; brother, James E. Crook; great-grandson, James T. Crook; and brother-in-law, Tim McGee.
A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at Noblesville First Christian Church, 16377 Herriman Blvd., with Dr. Richard Bailey officiating. Burial will take place in Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville at a later date. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday prior to the memorial service at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood
Bob moved with his family from Kentucky to Indiana in 1939 and to Noblesville in 1942. He graduated from Noblesville High School in 1947, then attended Ball State Teachers College and Indiana University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Butler University in 1960.
He married Norma Jane Burger on June 21, 1953, sharing nearly 65 years of marriage together. For many years they operated several restaurant and catering businesses, most notably the Forest Park Inn, from 1953 to 1966.
Diagnosed with severe eye problems at the age of 5, Bob gradually lost all of his sight. However, he was determined not to let the disability define his life. His extraordinary achievements were testimony to his independence and will to succeed. In 1965 he was one of twelve blind candidates selected for a new government program to attend Cincinnati Blind School for extensive training in information technology, and in 1967 began working as a data systems analyst with Indiana Bell, later Ameritech. He retired from Ameritech in 1987 after 20 years of service.
Bob was an active member of Noblesville First Christian Church for more than 50 years, where he served as Elder and sang in the choir, among many other activities. He was a great lover of music, singing in the Bell Telephone Chorus and the Pride of Indy barbershop chorus. He also enjoyed Dixieland music, and played his tenor banjo with the Indy Strummers band. Nothing pleased him more than gatherings with his family, especially with music and good food. He loved classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes; and had worked toward his pilot’s license until his vision loss interfered. For many years he owned a 1915 Model T Ford and he loved tinkering with it, polishing it, and sharing it for community parades and other events. He was active in Boy Scouts as a young man and later served as an assistant scoutmaster. He was an avid gardener throughout his life, and enjoyed creating new and interesting culinary creations with the bounty of his garden. He was a charter member of the Noblesville Toastmasters, as well as a member of Noblesville Kiwanis, Noblesville Horticulture Society, Hamilton County Historical Society, and Central Indiana Vintage Vehicles. In his later years he enjoyed travelling with his family, emailing relatives and friends with updates on his “Great 8” grandkids, and he penned “The Wheels Go Round and Round”, a biographical collection of his experiences with all things motorized.
Bob’s family includes his wife, Jane Crook of Noblesville; son Daniel R. “Randy” (wife Beverly) Crook of Arcadia; son Spencer W. Crook of New Jersey; daughter Wendy S. (husband Dave) Coles of Greenwood; daughter-in-law Diane Crook (companion Roger Stern) of Noblesville; brother Marcus F. (wife Kim) Crook of Arizona; sister Beverly McGee of Noblesville; sister-in-law Janet Crook of Westfield; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (wife Brandy) Crook, Heather Matthew, Tim (wife Ashley) Crook, Erika (husband Adam) Wiles, Kelsey (husband Gabe) Schneider, Brendon Crook (fiancé Miranda Jarvis), Lauren Coles, and Derek Coles; ten great-grandchildren, Emma, Nathan, Hannah, Ian, Hunter, Samuel, Joel, Sarah, Abigail, and Forrest; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert B. “Brad” Crook; brother, James E. Crook; great-grandson, James T. Crook; and brother-in-law, Tim McGee.
A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at Noblesville First Christian Church, 16377 Herriman Blvd., with Dr. Richard Bailey officiating. Burial will take place in Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville at a later date. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday prior to the memorial service at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood
Robert Randolph “Bob” Crook, age 88 and a longtime resident of Noblesville, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018 at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born on July 15, 1929 in Louisville, Kentucky, the eldest son of Robert H. and Ethel (Literal) Crook.
Bob moved with his family from Kentucky to Indiana in 1939 and to Noblesville in 1942. He graduated from Noblesville High School in 1947, then attended Ball State Teachers College and Indiana University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Butler University in 1960.
He married Norma Jane Burger on June 21, 1953, sharing nearly 65 years of marriage together. For many years they operated several restaurant and catering businesses, most notably the Forest Park Inn, from 1953 to 1966.
Diagnosed with severe eye problems at the age of 5, Bob gradually lost all of his sight. However, he was determined not to let the disability define his life. His extraordinary achievements were testimony to his independence and will to succeed. In 1965 he was one of twelve blind candidates selected for a new government program to attend Cincinnati Blind School for extensive training in information technology, and in 1967 began working as a data systems analyst with Indiana Bell, later Ameritech. He retired from Ameritech in 1987 after 20 years of service.
Bob was an active member of Noblesville First Christian Church for more than 50 years, where he served as Elder and sang in the choir, among many other activities. He was a great lover of music, singing in the Bell Telephone Chorus and the Pride of Indy barbershop chorus. He also enjoyed Dixieland music, and played his tenor banjo with the Indy Strummers band. Nothing pleased him more than gatherings with his family, especially with music and good food. He loved classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes; and had worked toward his pilot’s license until his vision loss interfered. For many years he owned a 1915 Model T Ford and he loved tinkering with it, polishing it, and sharing it for community parades and other events. He was active in Boy Scouts as a young man and later served as an assistant scoutmaster. He was an avid gardener throughout his life, and enjoyed creating new and interesting culinary creations with the bounty of his garden. He was a charter member of the Noblesville Toastmasters, as well as a member of Noblesville Kiwanis, Noblesville Horticulture Society, Hamilton County Historical Society, and Central Indiana Vintage Vehicles. In his later years he enjoyed travelling with his family, emailing relatives and friends with updates on his “Great 8” grandkids, and he penned “The Wheels Go Round and Round”, a biographical collection of his experiences with all things motorized.
Bob’s family includes his wife, Jane Crook of Noblesville; son Daniel R. “Randy” (wife Beverly) Crook of Arcadia; son Spencer W. Crook of New Jersey; daughter Wendy S. (husband Dave) Coles of Greenwood; daughter-in-law Diane Crook (companion Roger Stern) of Noblesville; brother Marcus F. (wife Kim) Crook of Arizona; sister Beverly McGee of Noblesville; sister-in-law Janet Crook of Westfield; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (wife Brandy) Crook, Heather Matthew, Tim (wife Ashley) Crook, Erika (husband Adam) Wiles, Kelsey (husband Gabe) Schneider, Brendon Crook (fiancé Miranda Jarvis), Lauren Coles, and Derek Coles; ten great-grandchildren, Emma, Nathan, Hannah, Ian, Hunter, Samuel, Joel, Sarah, Abigail, and Forrest; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert B. “Brad” Crook; brother, James E. Crook; great-grandson, James T. Crook; and brother-in-law, Tim McGee.
A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at Noblesville First Christian Church, 16377 Herriman Blvd., with Dr. Richard Bailey officiating. Burial will take place in Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville at a later date. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday prior to the memorial service at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood
Bob moved with his family from Kentucky to Indiana in 1939 and to Noblesville in 1942. He graduated from Noblesville High School in 1947, then attended Ball State Teachers College and Indiana University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Butler University in 1960.
He married Norma Jane Burger on June 21, 1953, sharing nearly 65 years of marriage together. For many years they operated several restaurant and catering businesses, most notably the Forest Park Inn, from 1953 to 1966.
Diagnosed with severe eye problems at the age of 5, Bob gradually lost all of his sight. However, he was determined not to let the disability define his life. His extraordinary achievements were testimony to his independence and will to succeed. In 1965 he was one of twelve blind candidates selected for a new government program to attend Cincinnati Blind School for extensive training in information technology, and in 1967 began working as a data systems analyst with Indiana Bell, later Ameritech. He retired from Ameritech in 1987 after 20 years of service.
Bob was an active member of Noblesville First Christian Church for more than 50 years, where he served as Elder and sang in the choir, among many other activities. He was a great lover of music, singing in the Bell Telephone Chorus and the Pride of Indy barbershop chorus. He also enjoyed Dixieland music, and played his tenor banjo with the Indy Strummers band. Nothing pleased him more than gatherings with his family, especially with music and good food. He loved classic cars, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes; and had worked toward his pilot’s license until his vision loss interfered. For many years he owned a 1915 Model T Ford and he loved tinkering with it, polishing it, and sharing it for community parades and other events. He was active in Boy Scouts as a young man and later served as an assistant scoutmaster. He was an avid gardener throughout his life, and enjoyed creating new and interesting culinary creations with the bounty of his garden. He was a charter member of the Noblesville Toastmasters, as well as a member of Noblesville Kiwanis, Noblesville Horticulture Society, Hamilton County Historical Society, and Central Indiana Vintage Vehicles. In his later years he enjoyed travelling with his family, emailing relatives and friends with updates on his “Great 8” grandkids, and he penned “The Wheels Go Round and Round”, a biographical collection of his experiences with all things motorized.
Bob’s family includes his wife, Jane Crook of Noblesville; son Daniel R. “Randy” (wife Beverly) Crook of Arcadia; son Spencer W. Crook of New Jersey; daughter Wendy S. (husband Dave) Coles of Greenwood; daughter-in-law Diane Crook (companion Roger Stern) of Noblesville; brother Marcus F. (wife Kim) Crook of Arizona; sister Beverly McGee of Noblesville; sister-in-law Janet Crook of Westfield; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (wife Brandy) Crook, Heather Matthew, Tim (wife Ashley) Crook, Erika (husband Adam) Wiles, Kelsey (husband Gabe) Schneider, Brendon Crook (fiancé Miranda Jarvis), Lauren Coles, and Derek Coles; ten great-grandchildren, Emma, Nathan, Hannah, Ian, Hunter, Samuel, Joel, Sarah, Abigail, and Forrest; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert B. “Brad” Crook; brother, James E. Crook; great-grandson, James T. Crook; and brother-in-law, Tim McGee.
A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at Noblesville First Christian Church, 16377 Herriman Blvd., with Dr. Richard Bailey officiating. Burial will take place in Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville at a later date. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday prior to the memorial service at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood
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